Cyclingmaniac
12-23-03, 11:03 PM
I'm looking at purchasing a Giant TCR 1 Composite. Any feedback, advice, pros or cons? Thanks!
Road Cycling - Advice on buying a new bike?
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kevmetric
12-24-03, 01:23 AM
One rule of thumb to follow, is that the local bike shop
will never sell you the bike that has the most value for
the money.
They'll try to maximize their commission off your back,
meaning the bigger the sales price, the bigger their
margin and the bigger their profit.
Myself, I wanted an entry-level road bike, with Shimano
specs, and was told to buy a $3,000 road bike, with
all the bells and whistles.
The value model, I was told they didn't carry it, by
the salesman. When I asked about the FUJI in stock,
the salesman backtracked, and said yes, actually they
do, in fact, carruy FUJI's.
When I asked to be fitted, he said a FUJI is too weak
a road bike to sustain a 190 pound cyclist - never mind
that a FUJI's steel frame is stronger than a $3,000 model's
aluminum - and it's a more comfortable ride, as well.
When asked if I could order a FUJI, they said they were out
of stock.
When I replied I had called the wholesale distributer the same day,
to find out, and heard that 20 units were ready for shipping across
the country, to local bike shops, the salesman couldn't find a rebuttal,
and said he would call himself to find out more.
Clearly...the biggest margin is the goal of the salesman at many
bike shops.
I just had to find one good, honest and hard-working bike shop
owner, to get all that I needed. He made a tidy profit, and I got
my FUJI.
will never sell you the bike that has the most value for
the money.
They'll try to maximize their commission off your back,
meaning the bigger the sales price, the bigger their
margin and the bigger their profit.
Myself, I wanted an entry-level road bike, with Shimano
specs, and was told to buy a $3,000 road bike, with
all the bells and whistles.
The value model, I was told they didn't carry it, by
the salesman. When I asked about the FUJI in stock,
the salesman backtracked, and said yes, actually they
do, in fact, carruy FUJI's.
When I asked to be fitted, he said a FUJI is too weak
a road bike to sustain a 190 pound cyclist - never mind
that a FUJI's steel frame is stronger than a $3,000 model's
aluminum - and it's a more comfortable ride, as well.
When asked if I could order a FUJI, they said they were out
of stock.
When I replied I had called the wholesale distributer the same day,
to find out, and heard that 20 units were ready for shipping across
the country, to local bike shops, the salesman couldn't find a rebuttal,
and said he would call himself to find out more.
Clearly...the biggest margin is the goal of the salesman at many
bike shops.
I just had to find one good, honest and hard-working bike shop
owner, to get all that I needed. He made a tidy profit, and I got
my FUJI.
TrekRider
12-24-03, 05:35 AM
I'm looking at purchasing a Giant TCR 1 Composite. Any feedback, advice, pros or cons? Thanks!
Because of their limited sizing, it is more difficult to bet correctly fitted to a Giant. There are many who will, anecdotally, tell how their Giant fits them perfectly. But there are just as many who will say they didn't buy one because there was no way they could be fit properly.
At 6'3", 240lbs, and a Greg Lemond style dimensions, there is no way a Giant was going to fit me. In fact, the more I look, the more it looks like the best fitting bike will be a Lemond.
Because of their limited sizing, it is more difficult to bet correctly fitted to a Giant. There are many who will, anecdotally, tell how their Giant fits them perfectly. But there are just as many who will say they didn't buy one because there was no way they could be fit properly.
At 6'3", 240lbs, and a Greg Lemond style dimensions, there is no way a Giant was going to fit me. In fact, the more I look, the more it looks like the best fitting bike will be a Lemond.
shokhead
12-24-03, 07:41 AM
Ride one,if it fits,you like it better then the others you tested and its a good price,get it,its a good bike.